Corporate Governance

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee U.K. plans to create thousands of new jobs in the United Kingdom as it steps up its drive-thru program following three years of development and strong customer response to the convenience of Starbucks coffee on-the-go.

The move will see 200 new drive-thru stores opened over the next five years. Combined with openings of conventional stores over the same period, the company expects to create 5,000 new jobs.

Washington, D.C. -- Supervalu has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, which aims to engage building operators nationwide in improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. The announcement was made by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton during a leadership event attended by Craig Herkert, Supervalu chief executive officer and president, in Washington, D.C.

New York City -- Barnes & Noble posted a worse-than-expected net loss of $6.6 million for the second quarter, compared with a net loss of $12.6 million a year ago.

Total sales for the period ended Oct. 29, 2011, slipped 0.6% to $1.89 billion from $1.90 billion in the year-earlier quarter, with the biggest drop occurring at the chain’s college stores. Online revenue grew 17% in the quarter to $206 million, which the company attributed to increases in sales of ebooks and its Nook line of e-reading devices.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced that, in 50/50 partnership with Genting Berhad, it has opened Johor Premium Outlets, its first Premium Outlet Center in Southeast Asia.

The center encompasses 173,000 sq. ft. of gross leasable area featuring 80 stores and is located in Johor Bahur, Malaysia. A grand opening celebration will take place on December 11, 2011.

Poway, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that Villa Capri Ristorante has leased restaurant space at Twin Peaks shopping center, located in Poway, Calif.

The 2,570-sq.-ft. restaurant is slated to open in January 2012, bringing the center to 98% leased.

Twin Peaks is a 198,139-sq.-ft. shopping center home to several national and regional retailers such as Target, Albertsons, Starbucks and Subway.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — The nation’s leading warehouse club operator maintained its momentum in November by posting a 6% increase in same-store sales at U.S. clubs excluding the beneficial effect of higher year-over-year gas prices.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Comps continue to improve at Pier 1 Imports, thanks to increased traffic and average ticket size. The company reported that comparable-store sales for the third quarter increased 7%. This was on top of a 10.2% comps increase in the prior-year period. Total sales for the quarter increased 8.2% to $383 million compared with $354 million in the year-ago quarter.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target reported November same-store sales increased 1.8%, which was toward the low end of the company’s guidance that called for an increase in the low to mid single-digit range.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Kroger posted its 32nd consecutive of same-store sales gains as the grocer continues to grab market share due to a combination of a customer service initiative and value pricing.

Target previously acknowledged that the return of layaway at Walmart impacted its early-season toy sales, and now comes another interesting revelation in Target’s November sales release.